Beckley Campus Student Nursing Association "Adopts" a Family

Several first year students in the nursing program at the Beckley Campus of Bluefield State College have "adopted" a needy Beckley-area family as one of several service projects this year. The first year students in the Beckley Campus Student Nursing Association (Beckley-SNA) have expanded the scope of their volunteer activity with their "adopted" family beyond the traditionally-provided Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, and have provided carpet, clothes, blankets, and furniture for the family.

"This project has been very gratifying for us," noted first year Beckley-SNA president Krista Richmond of Beckley. "We talk to the family 2-3 times each month to see how they are doing and see what we may do to help them." Richmond said the nursing students plan to continue work with the family for the rest of the academic year.

Earlier this academic year, the first year SNA at BSC's Beckley Campus provided a "Halloween on Wheels," dressing in Halloween costumes and taking treats, gifts, and food to patients in the pediatric unit of Raleigh General Hospital. "We had so much donated food left over we put it in the 'fathers' waiting room' outside the delivery room and in the OB/GYN unit," Richmond said.

The group also participated in the Christmas "Angel Tree" program in Beckley in December.

The Beckley-SNA's activities include a program where second year BSC Beckley Campus nursing students serve as "big brothers/big sisters," assisting first year nursing students with challenges they encounter. Each first year student has a specific second year student "big brother" or "big sister."

"The Beckley Campus SNA is a wonderful organization," RN instructor and organization advisor Debra Vest said. "It meets the needs of other students in the program and reaches out to help individuals and families within our community."